Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester
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Hugh le Despenser (1262 – October 27, 1326), son of Hugh le Despenser II, sometimes referred to as "the elder Despenser", was for a time the chief adviser to King Edward II of England.
He was created a baron by writ of summons to Parliament in 1295. He was one of the few barons to remain loyal to Edward during the controversy regarding Piers Gaveston. Despenser became Edward's loyal servant and chief administrator after Gaveston was executed in 1312, but the jealousy of other barons - and, more importantly, his own corruption and unjust behaviour - led to his being exiled along with his son Hugh the younger Despenser in 1321, when Edmund de Woodstoke replaced him as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
Edward found it difficult to manage without them, and recalled them to England a year later, an action which enraged the queen, Isabella, the more so when Despenser was created Earl of Winchester. When Isabella and her lover, Roger Mortimer, led a rebellion against the king, both Despensers were captured and executed. The elder Despenser was hanged at Bristol on October 27, 1326. Beforehand, he was brutally tortured; he genitals were cut off "because of his unnatural practices with the king," though evidence of homosexuality between Edward II and the Despensers is not proven.
| Legal Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Lord Strange |
Justice in Eyre south of the Trent 1296–1307 |
Succeeded by Pain Tiptoft |
| Preceded by The Lord Tibetot |
Justice in Eyre south of the Trent 1307–1311 |
Succeeded by Robert fitz Pain |
| Preceded by Robert fitz Pain |
Justice in Eyre south of the Trent 1312–1314 |
Succeeded by The Lord Monthermer |
| Preceded by The Earl of Pembroke |
Justice in Eyre south of the Trent 1324–1326 |
Succeeded by The Lord Wake of Liddell |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Lord Badlesmere |
Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports 1320 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Kent |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by New Creation |
Earl of Winchester 1322–1326 |
Succeeded by Attainted |
| Preceded by Hugh le Despencer |
Baron le Despencer 1265–1326 |
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